Wall mounted frame featuring front loading capability

ABSTRACT

A front-loaded frame defines a cavity accessible through an opening. The cavity may have an upper pocket and a lower pocket that extend upward and downward of the opening, behind lower and upper lips of the front surface of the frame, respectively. Thereby a display item may be loaded through the opening through a two-step process involving sliding an upper portion of the display item into the upper pocket, which is deeper than the lower pocket, so that a lower portion of the display item clears the lower lip so that the lower portion can be seated along a lower surface of the cavity, while the upper lip prevents the upper portion from falling out of the cavity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/172,311, filed 8 Apr. 2021, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to frames for mounting pictures on walls and, more particularly, a wall mounted frame featuring front loading capability for displaying objects, specifically planar or flat objects.

Traditionally, a picture frame is loaded through its rear surface, thus necessitating removal of the frame from the wall when changing its display item. There are non-rear loaded picture frames, but their loading process requires one or more features that detracts from the appeal of the frame and/or display item. There are also other non-rear loaded picture frames that utilize complex mechanisms to accomplish their loading process.

Removal of the frame from the wall to access its rear surface to remove a displayed item requires the user to remount, and thus reposition and re-level the frame to recapture the previous aesthetic. The presence of a non-rear, edge “loading slot” seen along the frame itself is visible by admirers of the display piece, and thus can detracts from the aesthetic of the display. Furthermore, loading slots undermine the structural integrity of the frame. Finally, complex mechanisms can confuse the user of the frame when changing the display item, and such mechanisms can break, rendering the frame useless.

As can be seen, there is a need for a wall mounted frame featuring front loading capability for displaying objects, specifically planar or flat objects.

The frame embodied in the present invention allows the user to swap their display items rapidly and easily without having to move or adjust the frame following its initial wall mounting. Thus, the frame may be semi-permanently or even permanently affixed to the wall. Additionally, there is no observable evidence of the frame's front-loading functionality when on display—i.e., there is nothing to detract from its aesthetic—nor complex mechanisms required to achieve said front-loading functionality.

In short, the present invention permits the swapping of items being displayed without any outward evidence of its functionality (like a slot) nor moving parts that can break or be difficult to use.

The displayed item is loaded through a front opening that communicates to a cavity for supporting the display item. The display item may be “rocked” into the cavity by utilizing an upper pocket of the cavity and an opposing lower pocket of the cavity to do so. The front surface of the frame includes an upper lip and a lower lip that defines a forward surface of the upper and lower pockets, respectively. As a result, an upper portion of the display item can be slid into the upper portion pocket so that the lower portion of the display item may clear the lower lip to be placed in the lower pocket. Therein the display item is seated, while the upper portion of the display item supportively rests against the rear surface of the upper lip of the pocket or the rear wall of the pocket. To remove the display item, it is urged up further into the upper pocket so that the display item's lower portion clears the lower lip. The removable process may be facilitated with the assistance of a small card, suction cup, or otherwise using surface friction of the display surface of the display item against the user's fingers as the display item may be leaned against the fingers during this removal process.

The present invention facilitates the swapping of display items without any outward evidence of its functionality (like a slot) or moving parts that can break or be difficult to use, and it thus eliminates the need to remove a frame from a wall and disassemble the back to change what is being displayed through the front.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a picture frame including the following: a body defining a cavity having a first footprint defined in part by an upper body surface and a lower body surface; a front surface of the body having an opening communicating to the cavity, wherein the opening has a second footprint, the first and second footprints being horizontally coextensive; and an upper lip and opposing lower lip extending toward each other from the upper and lower body surfaces, respectively, wherein the upper and lower lips each have an external surface contiguous and flush with said front surface.

In another aspect of the present invention, the picture frame further includes wherein the upper and lower lips define upper and lower pockets of the cavity, respectively, and wherein the upper lip has an upper length that is at least twice a lower length of the lower lip; and further including a display item having an item depth that substantially fills a cavity depth of the cavity, wherein the display item is seated in the cavity so that an upper and lower portion of the display item is behind the upper and lower lips, respectively; and further including a display pane approximately coextensive with the display item.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for making a front-loaded frame for a display item includes forming a cavity in a frame body so that upper and lower lips extend from upper and lower surfaces of the cavity, respectively, wherein the upper lip has an upper length at least twice that of a lower length of the lower lip, wherein the upper and lower lips define upper and lower cavity pockets, respectively; dimensioning a cavity depth of the cavity to be approximately ten percent deeper than an item depth of the display item; and dimensioning a height of an opening defined between the upper and lower lips so that the cavity depth and the lengths of the upper and lower lips are dimensioned so that an upper portion of the display item needs to be moved from an external environment into substantially an entirety of the upper pocket before a lower portion of the display item can clear the lower lip so as to be seated in the lower pocket.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1, shown in a used condition.

FIG. 4 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing front loading of a display item through initially urging its upper portion from an external environment into an upper pocket of the cavity.

FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing front loading of a display item, illustrating the lower portion of the display item clearing the lower lip.

FIG. 6 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing front loading of a display item, wherein a final step, the display item is seated along a bottom surface of the cavity.

FIG. 7 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing front loading of a display pane through initially urging its upper portion from an external environment into an upper pocket of the cavity.

FIG. 8 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing front loading of a display pane, wherein a final step, the display pane is seated along a bottom surface of the cavity.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating front loading of a display pane over the front of the display item.

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present, illustrating the final step of installing the display pane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a wall mounted frame for displaying flat objects featuring front loading capability. The frame defines a cavity accessible through an opening. The cavity may have an upper pocket and a lower pocket that extend upward and downward of the opening, behind lower and upper lips of the front surface of the frame, respectively. Thereby a display item may be loaded through the opening through a two-step process involving sliding an upper portion of the display item into the upper pocket, which is deeper than the lower pocket, so that a lower portion of the display item clears the lower lip so that the lower portion can be seated along a lower surface of the cavity, while the upper lip prevents the upper portion from falling out of the cavity.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 10, the present invention may include a frame 10 having a body providing a front surface 11 and a rear portion 12. The body defines the sidewalls of a cavity 15, while the rear portion 12 defines the rear surface of the cavity 15. An upper flange or upper lip 17 extends downward from an upper portion of the body along the front surface 11 thereof. A lower flange or lower lip 19 extends upward from a lower portion of the body along the front surface 11 thereof, so the upper and lower lips 17 and 19 define the upper and lower portions of an opening 13, respectively, that communicates with the cavity 15. The side portions of the body define the sides of the cavity 15. The frame 10 may be made from durable material (wood, plastic, metal).

The cavity 15 may have an upper pocket 14 behind the upper lip 17. An external surface of the upper lip 17 may be flush with the remainder of the front surface 11. The pocket 15 may have a lower pocket 16 behind the lower lip 19 of the frame 10. An external surface of the lower lip 19 may be flush with the remainder of the front surface 11.

Fasteners 18, adhesives 24, or the like may be used to mount the rear portion 12 of the frame 10 to a supporting surface 22, such as a wall. The adhesives 24 may have peel-away covers.

The upper and lower pockets 14 and 16 enables the user to swap their display items 21 rapidly and easily without having to move or adjust the frame 10 following initial mounting of the frame 10. There is no observable evidence of its functionality when used to display that detracts from its aesthetic, nor complex mechanisms required to achieve the easy change functionality.

The display item 21 may be installed by first pushing its upper portion into the upper pocket of the cavity 15 so that the lower portion of the display item 21 can temporarily clear the lower lip 19 so it too can be inserted into the cavity 15. As a result, the display item 21 is completely in the cavity 15. The upper portion of the display item 21 may rest against the upper lip 17 or otherwise be prevented from falling out of the cavity 15. Accordingly, the dimensionality of the opening 13, the upper and lower pockets 14 and 16, are adapted in view of the dimensions of the display item 21.

A display pane 20 may be similarly front-loaded so as to act as a UV barrier between the display item 21 and the opening 13/external environment. Alternatively, the display item 21 may be housed in a transparent sleeve (not shown).

To remove the display item 21 being displayed, the user slides the display item 21 up into the upper pocket 14 and inserts a thin card or uses a suction cup (neither shown) to pull the item out of the cavity 15. The upper pocket 14 may have a height ‘B’ that approximately fifty to approximately three hundred percent deeper than a height ‘C’ of the lower pocket 16 (depth, for the upper pocket 14, being measured from the upper edge of the opening to upper portion of the body). As a corollary, the upper lip 14 may have a length that is approximately fifty to three hundred percent longer than a length of the lower lip 16.

The depth ‘A’ of the cavity 15 may be filled approximately ninety percent by the depth of the display item 21 or a combination of the depth of the display item 21 and the display pane 20.

A method manufacturing the present invention may include the following. Once the plastic, metal, or wood are procured a manufacturer may cut, form, and assemble or additively manufacture into a frame featuring the upper, larger pocket 14 and an opposing lower, smaller pocket 16 in the cavity 15. The resulting frame could then be backed with the adhesive backing for later attachment to a wall. The non-adhesive covering may be placed directly on the adhesive backing. An auto-removal spring loaded flap could be added internally to the frame to permit tool-less removal of the item being displayed.

The dimensions of the frame and its internal pockets can be modified to permit the display of many different objects contained in many different encapsulations, such as pictures (of an infinite number of dimensions), records, comic books, collectible cards, posters, diplomas, etc.

Additionally, ornate accents may be added to the frame. Likewise, the frames may be adapted for decorating with print, such as team logos, colors, patterns, and other decorations.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The frame 10 disclosed herein may be provided. A user may mount the frame 10 to the supporting surface 22 via the fasteners 18 or the adhesive pads 24 or any other acceptable mounting method. The desired display item 21 is then inserted into the frame 10 from the front, via the opening 13, by first sliding the upper portion of the display item 21 into the frame up into the upper pocket 14, flat against the wall, and then allowed to sit inside of the lower small pocket 16. The display pane 20, which may be acrylic or other UV-protected transparent material, may then may be front loaded in front of the display item 21 through a similar process. Additionally, the installation method disclosed herein could be used in a myriad of ways to hold any number of items against a flat surface.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 90% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. The words “about,” “approximately,” or the like, when accompanying a numerical value, are to be construed as indicating a deviation as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for an intended purpose. Ranges of values and/or numeric values are provided herein as examples only, and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of the described embodiments. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A front-loaded picture frame comprising: a body defining a cavity having a cavity height defined by an upper cavity surface and a lower cavity surface; a front surface of the body having an opening communicating to the cavity, wherein the opening has an opening height; and opposing upper and lower lips extending toward each other from upper and lower cavity surfaces, respectively, wherein each of the upper and lower lips have an external surface contiguous and flush with said front surface.
 2. The front-loaded picture frame of claim 1, wherein each of the upper and lower lips define upper and lower pockets of the cavity, respectively.
 3. The front-loaded picture frame of claim 2, wherein the upper lip has an upper length that is at least twice a lower length of the lower lip.
 4. The front-loaded picture frame of claim 3, wherein a cavity width of the cavity is coextensive with an opening width of the opening.
 5. The front-loaded picture frame of claim 4, further comprising a display item having an item depth that substantially fills a cavity depth of the cavity, wherein the display item is seated in the cavity so that an upper and lower portion of the display item is behind the upper and lower lips, respectively.
 6. The front-loaded picture frame of claim 5, further comprising a display pane approximately coextensive with the display item.
 7. A method of making a front-loaded frame for a display item, the method comprising: forming a cavity in a frame body so that upper and lower lips extend from upper and lower surfaces of the cavity, respectively, wherein the upper lip has an upper length at least twice that of a lower length of the lower lip, wherein the upper and lower lips define upper and lower cavity pockets, respectively; dimensioning a cavity depth of the cavity to be approximately ten percent deeper than an item depth of the display item; and dimensioning a height of an opening defined between the upper and lower lips so that the cavity depth and the lengths of the upper and lower lips are dimensioned so that an upper portion of the display item needs to be moved from an external environment into substantially an entirety of the upper pocket before a lower portion of the display item can clear the lower lip so as to be seated in the lower pocket. 